Ngwa Group Condemns Gov. Alex Otti’s Discriminatory Actions, Ethnic Cleansing

An elite group of Ngwa aboregenes, known as the Ngwa Rangers, has condemned Governor Alex Otti’s systematic discrimination and nepotism against the Ngwa nation in Abia State.
This position was expressed in a press statement released on Monday and made available to THE NEWSHAUS (www.thenewshaus.com).

Details…

The Ngwa Rangers, vehemently condemn the systematic discrimination and acts of nepotism by Governor Alex Otti against the Ngwa nation in Abia State.

We are appalled by the reversal of command promotions granted to deserving civil servants by the previous administration, as we have investigated and discovered that the decision favours Ngwa individuals while secretly sparing his kinsmen, cronies, and loyalists. This is a clear case of discrimination and an attempt to deprive the Ngwa people of their rightful place in the state’s workforce.

We demand the immediate reinstatement of the reversed command promotions, as well as the complete reversal of all command promotions granted in the Abia Civil Service since 1999, because Ikpeazu is not the first Governor of Abia State to grant command promotions to deserving workers.

Former Governors Orji Uzor Kalu and T.A. Orji granted several command promotions, of which Alex Otti is aware because he worked with them as the State’s Accounts Officer. Why is Ikpeazu’s action deemed illegal?

It is an undeniable fact that the Ngwa people have done a lot for Dr. Alex Otti and his family over the years by accepting and coexisting peacefully.As a result, we believe that the governor owes the Ngwa nation fairer and more reciprocal treatment, but his actions and inactions have cost us dearly as a people, and we will not accept it any longer.

Alex Otti may struggle to forgive ala Ngwa for their support for Dr. Ikpeazu in 2015 and 2019. However, he must acknowledge that he could not have won the 2023 election without the tacit support of some of our sons who defected to Labour and contributed significantly to the final outcome.

We demand an end to this despotism, which has never been seen in Abia civil service and seeks to deprive the Ngwa people of their rightful place in the state’s workforce. If Dr. Alex Otti believes there is a need to reform the Civil Service, he should begin in 1999, because the illegalities he seeks did not occur during his predecessor’s tenure.

Governor Otti’s selective reversal of employment waivers issued by his predecessor, Governor Ikpeazu, while ignoring those granted by his predecessors, exemplifies discrimination and hypocrisy. This act has rendered over 20,000 Abians unemployed at a time when the country’s economy is in disarray. This would not have occurred if Dr. Otti had not allowed tribalism and vendetta to pervade his administration.

Alex Otti has no moral right to dismiss Abians from the Civil Service, reverse command promotions, and declare the decisions of a duly elected Governor illegal when he appointed a lady alleged by many to be his sister-in-law as Accountant General and, in a few days, issued a waiver for her employment into the Civil Service, promoting her to Grade Level 16, in flagrant violation of civil service rules.

This is the first time in Abia that a Governor has appointed Permanent Secretaries who do not come from Ngwa land, with at least five permanent Secretaries serving seven local governments. Our Ukwa brothers were unable to secure any appointments. Umuahia received at least seven out of twenty-four, while qualified Ngwa individuals were excluded, despite their merit and seniority.

We urge Governor Otti to recognise previous governors’ official approvals and waivers issued since 1999, and to ensure inclusive, merit-based civil service appointments.

We urge the governor to immediately appoint Hon. Aaron Uzodike as a member of the Abia State House of Assembly, despite his attempts to deny Aba North representation in the 8th Assembly.

It is an insult to the Ngwa nation that, under Otti’s watch, non-indigenous people are chairmen of Aba local governments, a decision he made and had the audacity to tell Ngwa people to hit their heads on the wall if they are dissatisfied. Aba Ngwa does not currently have a representative on the State Executive Council. And we wonder why an Aro man is not the T.C. Chairman of Umuahia North, or why a Ukwa man does not represent Ohafia on the State Executive Council.

Governor Otti must govern in an equitable, just, and fair manner, recognising the Ngwa nation’s contributions to Abia State’s growth and development.

To our kinsmen who have offered themselves  as a willing tools of aggression and deliberate repression against the Ngwa nation, history becons.If you do not retrace your steps, your condemnable and evil collaboration will be used against you indefinitely.

One word suffices for those who are wise.

 Signed;

Kingsley Ihesiaba.

Publicity Secretary

Ngwa Rangers